Agreed. I love how the term "big bopper" now seems to have stuck.

We need a big bopper for 2025.

Out of interest - will Warrington be signing a replacement for Drinkwater or is the plan to run with Leon Hayes?

We have Oli Leyland from London, not sure if we going with just those 2 but would not make sense to sign a third halfback

I would say it's almost certain that Burgess is putting his faith in Hayes as first choice. He's intimated this all year.

Not so sure that stands now given the signing of Leyland. Think it will be what Burgess and the coaching team see during preseason.

A have a feeling Hayes will go the way of Riley Dean, Dec Patton, Morgan Smith, Gaz O'Brien, Gary Hulse, Jamie Durbin etc.

Steady. I like the look of Leyland but let's see what happens at the start of the season. Hayes looks a great positive influence & he played so well.

My thoughts are in the past we have had an experienced half who automatically starts and a youngster coming in if said half is injured or rested. Now we have two youngsters pushing for the spot neither will want to be the one that doesn’t start so will push each other to get it. I actually like this scenario both will be hungry.

We’ve had all the world class halfbacks and won nowt, while it was Patton that won a CC and got us to 2 GF.

Give me Hayes all day

I'd be delighted if he develops into a top halfback.

Hayes had the shirt before he was injured.

It was a very serious break that Hayes had and hopefully he will make a full recovery but only time will tell.

Leyland has signed for Wire with a view to playing 1st team rugby, so good luck to him.

I think both have real potential. However I don't think either address our long standing issue of deep kicking when we're struggling for yardage out from our own line. Hayes defends well and has a nice passing and short kicking game. Leyland is quite an exciting runner and also appear to have a reasonable short kicking game. Looking forward to see how they do in preseason games.

Leyland is ahead of Hayes in terms of experience and skill level, can't see Hayes taking the starting spot ahead of him unless he really turns it on in pre-season and Leyland doesn't.

Hayes kept th far more experienced Drinkwater out, so I can’t see him waving Leyland through. No doubt they will both be busting a gut in pre season!

I am looking forward positively to a bit of healthy competition and the realisation that players get injured & need to rest. What is not to like ... we fans do seem to fret a bit & want positions clear cut. The only thing that I would not wish to do, prior to the season, is give out half back squad numbers.
I am of the view that Leyland may have the stronger kicking game.

Victor Radley has said he's 100% going to play in super league at some point. He'll only be 28 when currie's contract is up. I sincerely hope we are already talking to him.

Seen that post, I would think he would be somebody we would make an offer to him.

Competition is healthy.
Hayes and Leyland will bring out the best of each other.
It could be, that the two of them sit around Drinkwater’s yearly salary too.

Speaking of Drinky.
It was rumoured that Wire were considering a years extension in summer, but talk of him taking up a 3/4 year deal possibly at Salford.
Not heard anything since then.

Heard Oldham were interested in him

So we have Bullock, Dudson, Nicholson, Bruines, Drinkwater, Bateman & Matty Russell gone. Not sure if I've missed any there.

And we've brought in Dan Russell, Leyland and the guy from union 7's.

I'm assuming that some of our squad have had contract uplifts but I'm intrigued whether we have anything left in the pot for further signings, particularly in relation to a 'Big Bopper'. All quiet at the moment in terms of rumours but still think we look a little light in the pack both in terms of size and depth.

This something I have already spoken about regarding the pack. We have no quota spots available and I’m not sure who is available over here that we could look to bring in. Even if there is someone available it would be cheaper than an NRL signing.

Front rowers we have - Vaughan, Harrison, Wood, Thomas, Philbin, Yates, Musgrove and Okoro - probably missed someone. Need a large unit off the bench but can't see where that would come from in this country.

Sam Kasiano too.

I'd like to think Max Wood will get more game time next year, He's had a good solid first year so looking forward to him develop more.
I think Burgess will be after someone propwise already, or there would be no real reason to offload Bullock if we aren't actively trying to sign a replacement. Unless we just wanted free cap space in case someone becomes available later in the year, Having Bullock as back up rather than nobody at all would be the better option, so i think we'll see another forward come in.
Unless like i've said before, Okoro and Wood and maybe Thomas/Whitehead are having faith put in them to step up and make the difference?

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... s-30266571

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... s-30266571